Page 75 of Give In

I wrapped my arm around her waist to keep her from falling. Her hands landed on my chest, but she didn’t push. Instead, she looked up at me, her eyes huge and lips parted. Her short, shallow breaths pressed her tits against me.

Her lids lowered slightly.

The tip of her tongue darted out to touch her full lips.

Her fingers twitched, as if to fist my shirt.

She stood taller, swayed closer, and lifted her face toward me.

Each change was small. Automatic. A silent invitation I doubted she knew she was extending.

One I couldn’t wait to accept.

Before I could, a loud, impatient knocking broke the moment.

“Ignore it,” I growled, but I knew it was too late.

Eden’s body might as well have been concrete in my arms. Her hands at my chest shoved, and the mask was back, cooling the heat and smothering her fire.

Looking anywhere but me, she twisted out of my hold and whispered, “No. I need to get to class.”

“Isnoyour favorite word, Miss Wilder?”

“Only when I’m the one using it.”

The knocking started up again, more impatient than before.

“Don’t move,” I ordered.

Opening the door, I saw two of my seniors waiting. I was surprised it was only two. There was usually a third one who stuck to them, creating a tripod.

I’d barely finished my thought when the third Stooge rounded the corner, glaring at her friends before seeing me and softening her features.

“Caine,” the ringleader, Melinda, started, “we were hoping to talk with you about maybe doing some extra credit.”

Wasting my time was insulting enough. Wasting time I could be spending with Eden was infuriating.

Crossing my arms, I stood in the doorway—blocking their line of vision and Eden’s path of escape. “If the three of you have paid attention during my class this year, you know my rules regarding office hours are strictly enforced. All meeting requests are to be sent and scheduled.”

“We just thought…” she trailed off, tilting her head toward her friends.

I had no doubt what they thought. It was the same thought a slew of students had each semester—especially those approaching graduation. Fueled by a perceived mutual interest, a higher grade, or just the challenge, the outcome was always the same.

Rejection.

I’d always been kind but firm, ensuring I’d killed the fantasy they’d formed. Rarely, a student’s pride had made them stupid, and I’d been forced to involve Peters and the school to protect myself.

Never, in all my years of teaching, had I been tempted to sleep with a student.

Not until Eden strolled in and fucked shit up.

Fuckedmeup worse than I already was.

Knowing their interruption had given Eden time to rebuild her walls and reposition her mask pissed me off worse than their conniving.

“None of you could handle any extra added to your workload. Considering one of you is failing my class, one is skating the line, and one has managed to beaverage,” I said, my tone making it clear that wasn’t an achievement, “you can’t handle what you have now.”

“Maybe we can get some tutoring,” the latecomer to the group whispered in a nasally purr that I was betting she thought was sexy.